With the changing seasons come changes in life. Transportation is one of the most obvious. Winter is coming. And that means no more bike rides along the park. And, for the most part, no more biking around town. It’s time to put your bike in storage. Here are some tips to make it simple.

Clean and Maintenance

Now that you’re off the dusty trail for a while, take some time to wipe down and clean your bike, especially your tires. Lubricate the chain to prevent rusting. And lubricate the tires to prevent cracking from changes in temperature. Removing dirt from the frame helps keep it rust and scratch free, and it’ll prevent discoloration in the paint.

Another part of bike maintenance is airing up the tires to recommended levels. Proper air inflation not only prevents cracking in the tires, but it also helps maintain the structural integrity.

Hang, Box, or Stand

If you will have your bike in storage for a long time, longer than a season, you might want to invest in a bike box. They save space and protect your bike from scratches and dents during storage.

However, you can just hang your bike on a wall either in your house or in a garage. Especially if you’ll take it back out one the first of spring.

Likewise, if you invest in a storage unit, you could get a temperature-control unit and just roll it in to storage. This is a good idea, especially if you have other things you’d like in storage.